Socceroo Milos Degenek has become a social media sensation after a heartfelt post following Australia’s win over Tunisia at the World Cup in Qatar.

“Not a political post or a post about any war, just a post to show that life is the most beautiful thing,” he wrote.

“From absolutely nothing to winning a World Cup game. Representing the country that gave me everything. Thank you Australia, Socceroos. Never stop believing in yourself,” Degenek posted.

Degenek was 18 months old when he and his ethnic Serb family fled as Croatia’s war of independence began. The family rode on a tractor for seven days to get to safety.

They lived as refugees in a small town about 70 kilometres south of Belgrade. Then, when Degenek was six, the Kosovo war arrived on his doorstep.

He remembers playing with friends, hearing sirens warning of looming attacks, then spending up to 48 hours sheltering in an underground bunker and eating canned food.

He and his family came to Australia as refugees in 2000.

“You say ‘must-win’ game where you think it’s pressure… that’s not pressure,” Degenek said in the lead-up to the Tunisia match.

“Pressure is me as an 18-month-old baby fleeing a war. Pressure is me as a six-year-old being in the middle of a war.

“That’s pressure. Pressure is not a must-win football game because you can win or lose but I don’t think anyone is going to die.”

Degenek represented Australian and Serbian youth teams before opting into the Socceroos as his football career progressed in Germany.

“This is more than just a game. We are all proud to represent this beautiful country,” he wrote in a separate post following Saturday’s win.

“We are all proud to wear this shirt. We will continue to do our best and make history. Believe in the process trust yourself – never die mentality, lion mentality,” the central midfielder posted.

Degenek’s rally to make history came after Socceroos coach Graham Arnold ordered his players to temper their celebrations.

After coming Australia, Degenek played for the Westfield High Sports School in Sydney’s western suburbs and the Australian Institute of Sport. In 2012 he joined the Under 19 team of German powerhouse Vfb Stuttgart.

 “My first experience of professional football was being dropped in the middle of Germany and having to take an hour and a half to get to training in the middle of a freezing winter. My first professional contract was $1,000 a month, so I wasn’t earning big bucks,” Degenek said.

“I didn’t have the money to buy proper winter clothing,” he said

Degenek’s agent eventually bought him a jacket, but the experience built resolve and resilience in the now 28-year-old who made his World cup debut as a substitute in Australia’s loss to France.

Since then he has played with 1860 Munich in Germany, Yokohama Marinos in Japan and Red Star Belgrade in Serbia.

He currently plays with the Columbus Crew in Major League Soccer in the US.